As landscape design professionals, one of the worst things we can hear from a client is, “I really didn’t picture it looking like that!”

Imagine our dread: The design was approved long ago, the backhoes and heavy machinery have done their work, the plants have been planted, the trees dropped into their holes, sod laid and finishing touches added — and suddenly, the work we’ve done isn’t at all what was in the client’s mind’s eye.

As design professionals, we can look at a plan-view drawing and automatically visualize what it will look like. The problem: For most of our clients, a plan-view drawing, rendered or not, is just a bunch of shapes on a piece of paper.

Drawings and illustrations can offer a surface view of what a completed design might look like, but they only offer part of the picture — and often, the part that’s missing is crucial for the people who matter most in the process.

That’s where VisionScape comes in.

Creating Better Renderings

VisionScape’s 3-D renderings give clients a clear idea of exactly what they’ll be getting — complete with a virtual walkthrough on a spot-on rendering of their property.

Since we started using the software about a year ago, VisionScape renderings have almost completely replaced the illustrative drawings that used to take days of work to complete.

If clients want changes to their final project illustrations — or at any stage in the process — we can make them quickly in VisionScape instead of redrawing everything by hand. The time and effort we save in creating these renderings offers us more opportunities to provide hands-on service and attention to our clients, which is ultimately much more important.

One of the best things about VisionScape for the design process is the plant palette, which offers an amazing visual representation of all the major plants we use in the Hudson Valley region. It lets us create layered effects within plantings, play with the color palette and change the size of the plants to represent different maturity levels.

VisionScape also helps us as designers and contractors understand the spatial relationships with our designs. Too often, we get stuck in plan view and don’t realize how the ground plane relates to and complements the overhead and eye-level planes.

It’s All About Our Clients

But it all comes back to the client: When you pair the design drawing with a VisionScape model of the design, the whole project comes alive — it’s a lot easier to relate the drawing to what’s in the model. Our clients’ eyes light up when they watch a video of their proposed design set around an exact representation of their property.

In that vein, the biggest benefit of VisionScape for Neave Group Outdoor Solutions is the assistance it offers for our client relations. The professional quality of the visuals it provides really helps us rise above the competition and gives us the tools to explain aspects and details of the project we couldn’t with 2-D drawings.

The ability to see what every design element will look like — as we design it — helps clients understand our design process and lets them make changes as we go, instead of after the work is done.

All that gives them the peace of mind that they’ve made a s ound investment — and chosen the right design professionals for their landscaping job.

Mike Gulla is a landscape designer at Neave Group Outdoor Solutions in Wappingers Falls, NY where their designers use VisionScape’s landscape design software extensively in their landscaping, swimming pool and sport court divisions.   

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Product Catalogue Improvements

Catalogue Search

• It is now possible to search the catalogue for products containing a search term.
• The search checks the primary, secondary, and tertiary names of the products as well as the manufacturer.
• The search box and button appear in the top right of the product catalogue.
• It will always search within the selected category, which is displayed in the search box.
• Search is not case sensitive.

Checking for Products Online

• The catalogue no longer automatically looks online for more products. This means, initially, it will only display products that you have already used or downloaded.
• There is now a button within the catalogue window that you can click to check for more products online. If you click it, the product list will become populated with the rest of the available products.
• For convenience, there is also a smaller button at the bottom of the catalogue window that has the same function.
• This change should make the catalogue run much faster and be more responsive.
• If you open a catalogue that does not have any products downloaded, it will automatically load the entire product list.

Bug Fixes / Minor Changes

• Fixed Sketchup models lighting incorrectly when a texture on it was rotated.
• Changing the angle of a patio surface will no longer also change the angle of the facing material when the same material is used.
• Fixed a potential crash caused by the new sky system.
• You are now able to close the “Point Details” tab on the height grid properties panel.
• Increased the maximum height of a point on a height grid to base height +50 feet.

VisionScape is proud to announce, the 2012 Fall Release for Virtual Property Architect™ is now available for download! The release features the highly anticipated SketchUp Importer for importing 3D SketchUp models directly into VisionScape’s software, a new lighting system, recreation catalogue, and much more.

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New SketchUp Importer

• VisionScape is proud to announce a new SketchUp Importer, which enables users to import 3D models created in Trimble SketchUp into the Virtual Property Architect™ environment. This SketchUp Importer can be found in the “Main” tab as is included as part of the VisionScape Professional Subscription.
• When you import a SketchUp model, you have the ability to assign it names and select what type of object it will be in the VisionScape environment. For example, if you import a SketchUp model as a window, it behave exactly like any window in VisionScape and “stick” to house walls.
• You are able to edit the materials on an imported SketchUp model by double clicking on the model and then clicking on the material that you wish to change. The materials can also be selected by “Surface ID”. Surface IDs are created in SketchUp prior to importing. When editing a material, you may choose the material type from an extensive list of dynamic materials, including wood, plastic, glass, pavers, etc.
• To re-use an imported SketchUp model in a different 3D Virtual Property design, you may find the model in the catalogue under the type of object you selected when you originally imported the model. For example, if you imported a custom pergola into VisionScape under the object type, “Structure”, you can open the Structures catalogue and the find the model there under “Imports”.
• Thumbnails for imported SketchUp models are created when you import them.
• It is important to note that imported SketchUp models are saved as part of the scene, so using them could significantly increase the fie size of your 3D Virtual Property design, increasing upload and download times.
• Imported SketchUp models have “Offset” sliders in the advanced tab on the properties panel for the model. These sliders will change the “mounting” point of the object . This will affect where it sticks to a house wall if it is a light, or where the bottom of the model is for calculating auto elevation.

New Sky System

• The sky system has been completely revamped for improved lighting based on the time of day, improved clouds as well as the inclusion of weather effects.
• You can change the cloud cover based on a few pre-set options in the “view” tab. The default setting is a clear sunny day.

Recreation Catalog

A new Recreation catalogue has been added under the “landscape” tab. The recreation catalogue currently inclues tennis courts, basketball courts and volleyball nets. This catalogue will be expanded in the future to include more games/sports.

Zoom to Cursor in Perspective

Whilst zooming in your scene, instead of zooming to the center of the screen, it will now zoom to wherever the cursor is situated. This feature has been present in Plan View and is now active in Perspective view. This will make navigating scenes easier, especially when working with imported SketchUp models.

Faster Movie Creation & Upload

The movie creation process has been optimized so that file sizes and bit-rate are lower. This will result in much improved creation times, upload speeds, and even better playback on the web. All of these improvements have been made without a loss in video quality.

Shadow Quality

• A setting has been added to increase the quality of the shadows in the software. This setting can be found in the advanced performance settings.
• We do not recommend increasing the quality while designing. It’s best to design at the lower quality and then increase the quality to create screenshots and movies.

Misc. Changes

• The pool coping size limit has been changed from 1ft to 4ft.
• The Product Download Manager has been improved so that the number of products in each category is more clear.
• Improved performance when using the deck tool and walkway tool.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a bug that allowed two cameras with the same name in one scene.
• Fixed Rock Borders unable to receive shadows
• Fixed the number of local products and products found online being incorrect in the catalogue window.
• Fixed the horizontal mirror button resulting in a vertical mirror.
• Fixed cameras having advanced object properties
• Fixed not being able to align or distribute house lights.
• Foxed a bug that would change the height of the entire wall when editing the wall height on a single point and then undoing the change.
• Fixed an exploit that allowed un-scalable products to have the scale changed.
• Fixed a bug that distorted a texture when changing the angle.
• Fixed a bug that prevented adding points to a pool if there was a terrain object underneath it.
• Fixed a bug that caused lights to behave strangely if the anti-aliasing settings were adjusted.
• Fixed the width of deck boards being incorrect.

Please feel free to call us at (800) 655-1834 between 9am -5pm EST or send us an email (support@visionscape.com) anytime with questions and a VisionScape expert will guide you through the right solution:

VisionScape has taken the 3D Virtual Property to a whole new level with an incredibly interactive experience. Organized in a timeline style, the new Virtual Property is an arrangement of vivid screenshots, high-definition walkthrough videos, detailed 2D plans and real project photos, each complete with your own descriptions. The story of a landscape project can now be told like never before.

Communicate & Collaborate

The Virtual Property enables the complete visualization of a landscape project prior to a shovel ever striking the ground or a purchase decision ever being made. This allows for the effective communication between all participants of the project’s planning, design and execution process. Landscape professionals can communicate to customer’s exactly how the finished project will look and feel for effecive collaboration. In turn, consumer’s can effectively communicate with professionals their vision for the project as well as ensure all participants, particularly spouses, are on the same page. A lifelike 3D Virtual Property design shows exactly how the finished project will look and feel, with no room for interpretation.

Social Sharing Tools

The entire Virtual Property as well as individual media assets such as screenshots, videos, projects photos and 2D plans can be shared via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google+. Landscape professionals can share Virtual Properties with current and potential customers while consumers can get the opinion of friends and family on the options for new patio furniture or the materials for a new walkway.

Fast & Easy Ownership Transfer 

Ownership of a Virtual Property design can easily be passed from one person to another with just a few clicks, which comes in handy when a landscape professional is ready give a customer his or her new Virtual Property upon project completion.

An Asset for the Life of the Property

A Virtual Property is an asset for the life of the property. At any time, a Virtual Property’s owner may open it up in VisionScape’s software to easily make edits to the design. A professional may make changes to a recurring customer’s design to reflect additional projects or update Virtual Properties on their portfolio with the latest products and materials. Once a consumer has a Virtual Property of their own, they may edit the design to plan future projects from selecting new planters for the patio or seeing how the new pool the family has always dreamed of will work in the backyard.

Geting started with your own Virtual Property is easy, simply register for VisionScape to download a free version of the Virtual Property Architect™ 3D landscape design software and begin easily designing your own Virtual Property or contact us at support@visionscape.com to be connected to a VisionScape design expert who can handle the design work for you.

REGISTER FOR VISIONSCAPE

Any questions? Please feel free to call us at (800) 655-1834 between 9am -5pm EST or send us an email anytime at support@visionscape.com  and a VisionScape expert will guide you through the right solution.

VisionScape Professional Profiles are the premiere way to showcase your Virtual Property designs and your company’s unique brand, all in one place, allowing you to engage current customers and attract plenty of new ones.

Showcase your Virtual Properties & Landscape Projects

All of your public Virtual Properties and landscape projects will be featured on your Professional Profile for easy access by current and potential consumers. Each of these Virtual Properties will be organized with the new Virtual Property experience [link], including vivid screenshots, high definition walkthrough videos, project photos and 2D plans. You can even upload real site photos along with screenshots of your proposed design design to give a “before and after” comparison.

Market Your Brand

The Professional Profile enables you to market your professional brand and differentiate from the competition. You can upload a company or professional logo, input contact information, write a brand description as well as link to social media accounts. The public profile serves as a complete resource to share with current and potential customers to market your professional brand to its fullest and set yourself apart from your competition.

Social Sharing Tools 

In addition to linking your existing social media accounts, your entire professional profile, virtual properties and individual media assets such as  screenshots, videos, project photos and plans can be shared via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google+ directly from the profile. Videos of your Virtual Properties can also be directly embedded from your profile and onto your website, professional directory websites and more. Whenever someone clicks on something shared from your professional profile on a social media site or other website, it will automatically link back to your professional profile, so they can become further engaged in your brand. Watch your designs, brand and messaging go viral!

VisionScape public Professional Profiles are included in the VisionScape Professional Subscription. Subscribe to set up your public Professional Profile today and begin differentiating your company from the competition.

SUBSCRIBE TO A VISIONSCAPE PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNT

Any questions? Please feel free to call us at (800) 655-1834 between 9am -5pm EST or send us an email anytime at support@visionscape.com  and a VisionScape expert will guide you through the right solution.

A new update for VisionScape’s Virtual Property Architect™ 3D landscape design software is now available for download.

Of the new features and functionality this update brings to the software, the most notable additions include an autosave feature, above ground pools and spas, randomize object tools and overall catalogue improvements. Further information on these additions, and all of the improvements, can be found below.

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Autosave

We’ve ensured you won’t lose any design work. While working on a Virtual Property design, the software will automatically save in the background every 5 minutes so. These saves will not overwrite the original document, but are rather stored in their own folder. If a crash occurs or you forget to save, you may load the autosave file to recover the work completed up to that point.

Above Ground Pools & Spas

There is now a catalogue for Above Ground Pools & Spas in the Water Features tab of the ribbon.

Randomize Tools

Found in the Edit tab, there are two new tools that allow you to randomize the rotation and size of products, such as plants, to make them appear more natural within the design. You can use these tools on a single product, or select multiple products and randomize them all at once. This, however, does not work on drawn objects such as patios, pools, etc.

Catalogue Improvements

Design with Virtual Property Architect™ even faster than before. Several improvements have been made to increase the catalogue’s efficiency, resulting in faster load times and overall performance.

Additional Features

• Load Time Improvement - Scenes and products, that have already been used before, now load about 50% faster. Additionally, the items in a scene will not render until the entire property has been loaded.
• Select Same - It is now possible to select all of the same product with the new “Select Same” tool. Simply select an object, right click, and choose “Select Same” from the pop up menu.
• Movies and screenshots will now remember the last output resolution you chose.

Additional Fixes

• Fixed a crash that occurred when using the catalogue.
• Fixed a crash that occurred when deleting a point on a wall resulted in a wall that was too short to render.
• Improved performance when using many bezier points.
• Fixed an occurrence of the software occasionally unable to close.
• Fixed deck steps from terminating on hidden objects.
• Fixed the ability to delete the compass by deleting the layer it is on.
• Changed the default camera height to 6 feet.

Please feel free to call us at (800) 655-1834 between 9am -5pm EST or send us an email anytime with questions and a VisionScape expert will guide you through the right solution:

Email: support@visionscape.com

Phone: 1-800-655-1834

What’s a backyard if it can’t be enjoyed with family and friends? The Fine Dining Design Template exemplifies a space built for entertaining with a covered bar and grill area, reflection pool and plenty of room for dining, mingling and even some dancing. The next backyard bash is just around the corner. As with all Design Templates, Fine Dining can be used as is for a project or as an aid in the creation of your own Virtual Property design.

Simply click the picture above, or the link below to be brought to the complete Fine Dining Design Template. Click the “Launch” button on the left-hand side of the Design Template and Fine Dining will open up directly in the Virtual Property Architect™ software, ready for you to customize virtually every aspect of the design. Change the paver materials, select new dining furniture, add /remove elements, choose new plants, reposition the bar….anything you can think of! Not a software subscriber? Register for a Free VisionScape Account to get started.

EXPLORE THE FINE DINING DESIGN TEMPLATE

With spring in full bloom, the Flowering Patio Design Template is the perfect place to enjoy everything the season (and every season!) has to offer. This design features a large patio space encased by flourishing plant beds. Circular seating and dining areas make for excellent spots to entertain in the midst of the scenic floral surroundings. You can even appreciate this space straight through the fall and early winter months with a warming fire pit. As with all Design Templates, Flowering Patio can be used as is for a project or as an aid in the creation of your own Virtual Property design.

Simply click the picture above, or the link below to be brought to the complete Flowering Patio Design Template. Click the “Launch” button on the left-hand side of the Design Template and Flowering Patio will open up directly in the Virtual Property Architect™ software, ready for you to customize. Change product materials, rearrange the furniture, add /remove elements, select new plants….the possibilities are endless! Not a software subscriber? Register for a Free VisionScape Account to get started.

EXPLORE THE FLOWERING PATIO DESIGN TEMPLATE

Are you ready for some modern living? Then step on into the appropriately titled Modern Living Design Template, the fourth Design Template of the 2012 Spring Release. Characterized by clean lines and a simple yet refined aesthetic, this contemporary design fits well into many types of landscapes with lush garden spaces and an intimate seating area around the fire. As with all Design Templates, Modern Living can be used as is for a project or as an aid in the creation of your own Virtual Property design.

Simply click the picture above or the link below to be brought to the complete Modern Living Design Template. Click the “Launch” button on the left-hand side of the Design Template and Modern Living will open up directly in the Virtual Property Architect™ software, ready for you to customize. Change product materials, rearrange the furniture, add /remove elements, adjust the terrain….the possibilities are endless! Not a software subscriber? Register for a Free VisionScape Account to get started.

EXPLORE THE MODERN LIVING DESIGN TEMPLATE

VisionScape Design Templates are a valuable tool for the entire VisionScape Community to use for their landscape and outdoor living projects. These Design Templates can be used as is or launched in our Virtual Property Architect™ software and completely customized for a specific project and outdoor space. In this week’s Video Tutorial, we’ll show the many ways in which to leverage VisionScape Design Templates.

We’ll cover how to launch Design Templates from VisionScape.com, open them up in our Virtual Property Architect™ software, customize specific elements, place the Design Template into one of your existing Virtual Properties and more.

Ready to try it out for yourself? Click the link below to explore and launch the Virtual Property featured in this tutorial as well as the previous video tutorials. You can also access the featured Design Template, Patio Reflections, to launch it within the software and begin editing it for your own design project. Register for a Free VisionScape Account to get started.

EXPLORE THE VIDEO TUTORIAL VIRTUAL PROPERTY